Controllable liquid dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A dispensing system for dispensing a quantity of material includes an inlet port to receive the material, an outlet port from which the material is dispensed from the dispensing system, a housing having an inner chamber with an adjustable volume, a first valve operable in one of an open mode of operation and a closed mode of operation. The first valve is disposed between the inlet port and the inner chamber in such a manner that when the first valve is operating in the open mode, material may flow from the inlet port into the inner chamber, and when the first valve is operating in the closed mode, material is prevented from flowing from the inlet port into the inner chamber. The dispensing system also includes a second valve operable in one of an open mode of operation and a closed mode of operation. The second valve is disposed between the outlet port and the inner chamber in such a manner that when the second valve is operating in the open mode, material may flow from the inner chamber to the outlet port, and when the second valve is operating in the closed position, material is prevented from flowing from the inner chamber to the outlet port.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/104,457 filed Jun. 24, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.6,085,943, which was a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/885,005, filed Jun. 30, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,343,both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dispensing device for variousliquids, and more particularly to a liquid dispensing device whichallows precise control over the amount of liquid dispensed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several types of prior art dispensing systems are used for dispensingmetered amounts of liquid or paste for a variety of applications. Onesuch application is in the assembly of printed circuit boards andintegrated circuit chips, wherein dispensing systems are used in theprocess of encapsulating integrated circuits with an encapsulantmaterial and in the process of under filling flip integrated circuitchips with an encapsulant. Prior art dispensing systems are also usedfor dispensing dots or balls of liquid epoxy or solder onto circuitboards and integrated circuits. The liquid epoxy and solder is primarilyused to connect components to a circuit board or to connect componentswithin an integrated circuit. The dispensing systems described aboveinclude those manufactured and distributed by Camelot Systems, Inc. ofHaverhill, Mass., the assignee of the present invention under the nameCAM/ALOT®.

In a typical dispensing system, a pump and dispenser assembly is mountedto a moving assembly for moving the pump and dispenser assembly alongthree mutually orthogonal axes (x, y, z), by servomotors controlled by acomputer system or controller. To dispense a volume of liquid on acircuit board or some other substrate at a desired location, the pumpand dispenser assembly is moved along the horizontal x and y axes untilit is located over the desired location. The pump and dispenser assemblyis then lowered along the vertical z axis until the nozzle is at anappropriate height over the substrate. The pump and dispenser assemblydispenses a predetermined volume of liquid, is then raised along the zaxis, moved along the x and y axes to a next desired location, and islowered along the vertical z axis to dispense the predetermined volumeof liquid at the next location.

In dispensing applications such as those described above, the accuracyof the volume of liquid dispensed by the system is an important featureof the system. In one prior art dispensing system, the pump anddispenser assembly includes an auguring screw housed in an auguringchamber within a dispenser housing. The auguring screw is rotated withinthe chamber to provide a controlled amount of liquid. The pump anddispenser assembly has a nozzle for dispensing material onto asubstrate. The liquid to be dispensed by the pump and dispenser assemblyis contained in a vertical, cylindrical syringe coupled to the dispenserhousing by a bracket. The syringe has a top piece having clamps thatprovide a pressure tight seal between the syringe and the top piece. Thetop piece includes an adapter for coupling to an air line to receivepressurized air. The pressurized air is used to force the dispensingmaterial from the syringe into the pump and dispenser assembly.

The prior art dispensing systems described above are effective indispensing material onto a substrate, however, it is desirable to have adispensing system having greater precision in controlling the amount ofmaterial to be dispensed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method fordispensing a controlled amount of material onto a substrate.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a liquiddispensing system includes a material control device which cooperateswith a switching device and a sealing device contained within a standarddispensing chamber. A standard power control system, such as aservomotor, in communication with the material control device, is usedto selectively adjust the position of the material control device todispense a controlled amount of material. When the sealing device is ina first position and the material control device is compressed apredetermined amount, a vacuum is created which draws material into thedispensing chamber. The material remains within the dispensing chamberas the sealing device in the first position seals an opening leading toa dispensing tip. After a predetermined amount of material is drawn intothe dispensing chamber, the switching device moves the sealing device toa second position. This creates a seal to prevent further material fromentering into the dispensing chamber. In this second position, thesealing device allows material to exit through the opening at thedispensing tip. By expanding the material control device, the materialwithin the dispensing chamber is forced out the opening of thedispensing tip. In this manner, the precise amount of material to bedispensed onto the substrate can be controlled.

In another embodiment, the material control device includes a screw andpiston system. The piston has an opening in one portion thereof to bereceived by the screw by corresponding engagement teeth. As the pistonmates with the screw, it is drawn away from the dispensing chamber. Thescrew can be disengaged from the piston by a reverse turning action onthe screw.

In another embodiment, the switching device is a pneumatic cylinderwhich is connected to the head of the sealing device which may protrudefrom the dispensing device.

In another embodiment, the dispensing device includes a retainer, havingtapered edges to meet and seal with a first sealing portion of thesealing device when the sealing device is in the first position.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the switching device hasa failsafe position to prevent material from leaking from the dispensingdevice by ensuring that the sealing device remains in a closed positionover the dispensing tip.

In yet another embodiment, an adjustment means is provided at the baseof the dispensing chamber which allows for adjustment of the length ofthe opening for the dispensing tip.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a dispensingsystem for dispensing a quantity of material. The dispensing systemincludes an inlet port to receive material, an outlet port from whichthe material is dispensed from the dispensing system, a housingincluding an inner chamber having an adjustable volume, and a firstvalve operable in one of an open mode of operation and a closed mode ofoperation. The first valve is disposed between the inlet port and theinner chamber in such a manner that when the first valve is operating inthe open mode, material may flow from the inlet port into the innerchamber, and when the first valve is operating in the closed mode,material is prevented from flowing from the inlet port into the innerchamber. The dispensing system further includes a second valve operablein one of an open mode of operation and a closed mode of operation. Thesecond valve is disposed between the outlet port and the inner chamberin such a manner that when the second valve is operating in the openmode, material may flow from the inner chamber to the outlet port, andwhen the second valve is operating in the closed position, material isprevented from flowing from the inner chamber to the outlet port.

In one embodiment, the first valve is constructed and arranged such thatthe mode of operation of the first valve is controlled in part based ona difference in pressure of material being received in the inlet portand pressure of material in the inner chamber, and the second valve isconstructed and arranged such that the mode of operation of the secondvalve is controlled in part based on a difference in pressure ofmaterial in the inner chamber and ambient air pressure at the outletport.

In still another embodiment, the first valve includes a first springproviding a spring force that causes the first valve to operate in theclosed mode of operation unless the pressure of the material in theinlet port is greater than the sum of pressure provided by the springforce and the pressure of material in the inner chamber, and the secondvalve includes a second spring providing a spring force that causes thesecond valve to operate in the closed mode of operation unless thepressure of the material in the inner chamber is greater than the sum ofpressure provided by the spring force of the second spring and theambient air pressure at the outlet port.

In still another embodiment, the housing of the dispensing systemincludes a piston and a ball screw coupled to the piston. The piston ismovable within the inner chamber to vary the volume of the innerchamber.

In yet another embodiment, the dispensing system further includes amotor coupled to the ball screw through a coupling nut to control aposition of the ball screw and to thereby control a position of thepiston in the inner chamber.

In another embodiment, the dispensing system further includes a syringecontaining material to be dispensed by the dispensing system, and asyringe cover that provides pressure to the material in the syringe tocause the material to flow out of the syringe and into the inlet port ofthe dispensing system.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a dispensing system fordispensing a quantity of material includes an inlet port to receivematerial, an outlet port from which the material is dispensed from thedispensing system, a housing including an inner chamber, means fordecreasing air pressure within the inner chamber to fill the innerchamber with material through the inlet port, and means for increasingpressure on the material in the inner chamber to force material from theinner chamber to dispense the material onto a substrate.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method ofdispensing material in a dispensing system. The dispensing system has aninlet port to receive material, an outlet port from which the materialis dispensed from the dispensing system, and a housing including aninner chamber. The method includes steps of decreasing air pressurewithin the inner chamber to cause material to flow through the inletport into the inner chamber, and increasing pressure on the material inthe inner chamber to cause material to flow from the inner chamberthrough the outlet port to be dispensed by the dispensing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is madeto the drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a dispensing system in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a material control device used inembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a dispensing device and a switchingdevice used in embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a sealing device used in embodiments of the presentinvention in an initial purge position;

FIG. 4B illustrates the sealing device and material control devicecooperating in a first position to draw material into the dispensingdevice;

FIG. 4C illustrates the material control device and the sealing devicecooperating in a second position to force material through a dispensingopening in the dispensing device;

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a perspective view of a dispensing system inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the dispensing system shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispensing system shown inFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is another cross-sectional side view of the dispensing systemshown in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the operation of the dispensing system ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For purpose of illustration, the present invention will now be describedwith reference to a dispensing system, which is used to dispense viscousmaterials onto a substrate. One skilled in the art will appreciate,however, that embodiments of the present invention are not limited todispensing systems that dispense viscous materials onto substrates, butrather, the dispensing apparatus and methods in accordance withembodiments of the present invention may be used in other applicationsrequiring dispensing of a controlled amount of material from acontainer.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a controllable liquid dispensing system 10 inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown.The liquid dispensing system 10 comprises a power control system 12connected to a material control device 14, which is connected to adispenser device 16. The material control device 14 cooperates andinteracts with the dispenser device 16 to deliver a controlled volume ofmaterial through a dispensing tip 22 and onto a substrate (not shown).Within the dispensing device 16, there is present a sealing device 20,which is connected to a switching device 18. Using standard timing andcontrol systems known in the art, the switching device can move thesealing device 20 from a first position which allows material to enterinto the dispensing chamber, but not exit the dispensing tip 22; to asecond position in which material is prevented from entering into thedispensing chamber, but may exit through the dispensing tip 22. Thematerial is drawn into the dispensing chamber when the sealing device isin the first position by a vacuum created in the dispensing chamber bythe material control device. The power control system 12 is a standardcontrol system as is known in the art and is coupled to the materialcontrol device 14 to selectively determine the volume of material to bedrawn into the chamber by displacing the material control device aselected distance. Once the material is drawn into the dispensingchamber, the switching device 18 moves the sealing device 20 to a secondposition. The material control device 14 is then returned to itsoriginal position forcing the material from the dispensing chamberthrough the dispensing tip 22 and onto the substrate.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the material control device 14 can be seen ingreater detail. In one embodiment, the material control device 14comprises a screw 30 and a piston 32. Preferably, self lubricatingmaterials and a fine threaded screw for greater control of pistonmovement are used. The piston 32 may comprise a first portion 34 and asecond portion 36. The first portion 34 defines an opening 38 containingengagement teeth 40 to receive and mate with the screw 30. The secondpiston portion 36 extends into the material control device chamber 58(See FIG. 3). In a preferred embodiment, a piston with a diameter of0.250 inches is used. However, smaller or larger diameter pistons may beused depending upon the volume of material to be dispensed. Selflubricating and abrasive resistant materials are preferred.

By connecting the material control device 14 to a standard power controlsystem, such as a servomotor, the rotation of the screw 30 can becontrolled, so that when the screw mates with the piston 32, the secondpiston portion 36 is drawn away from the dispensing chamber and backthrough the material control device chamber 58 to create a vacuum withinthe chamber. The displacement distance of the second piston portion 36can be controlled by the number of turns made to the screw 30. Bycontrolling the distance of displacement of the piston portion 36, theamount of vacuum created in the chamber 58 and dispensing chamber 52 isalso controlled. This in turn determines the amount of material which isdrawn into the dispensing device 16 as will be shown herein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the dispensing device 16, switching device 18and sealing device 20 of the present invention are shown in greaterdetail. The dispensing device 16 comprises a housing 50 which defines achamber 52 for receiving material, from an opening 54, which is to bedispensed through a second opening 60 and into a dispensing tip 22. Thesealing device 20 extends the length of the chamber 52. The sealingdevice 20 includes a first sealing portion 62 and a second sealingportion 64 connected by interconnect arm 66. The entire sealing device20 is in connection with the switching device 18. The switching device18 may be implemented using a common switch or preferably a pneumaticcylinder which can be controlled through standard control systems thatare known in the art. The switching device 18 could also be driven froma cam, a wedge or rack and pinion, or a motor and screw, similar to thedevice shown in FIG. 2. The sealing device 20 can be made from a rangeof material. For dispensing of abrasive materials, the sealing devicemay be made from tungsten carbide, ceramic, or other hard materials (ora combination of the above). For non abrasive materials, stainless steelor other suitable materials may be used.

It is preferred that the first sealing portion 62 of the sealing device20 be located in a position which separates the opening 54 for thematerial entrance into the chamber 52 from the material control devicechamber 58 and the material control device 14. In this manner, the firstsealing portion 62 can create a seal between the material entranceopening 54 and the material control device chamber 58. In oneembodiment, a retaining device 56 may be placed in the chamber 52 toassist in creating the seal with the first sealing portion 62 and alsoto prevent the first sealing portion 62 from rising to the level of thematerial entrance opening 54. The retaining device 56 may have taperededges to assist in the sealing process. The retaining device may be anyof those known in the art. The first sealing portion 62 may also be aball and check valve or one of other similar sealing devices known inthe art.

The sealing device 20 has a second sealing portion 64 connected by aninterconnect arm 66 to the first sealing portion 62. This second sealingportion 64 seals the opening above the dispensing head or tip 22 toprevent material from dispensing from the chamber 52. The first sealingportion 62, second sealing portion 64 and interconnect arm 66 act incooperation with each other so that when the switching device 18 moves,the sealing device 20 from a first position to a second position, one ofthe seals created by either the first sealing portion 62 or the secondsealing portion 64 is in an open position and the other seal is in aclosed position.

The dispensing device 16, switching device 18 and material controldevice 14 can all be assembled and connected through various fasteningmeans known in the art such as clamps, screws, bolts, pins, etc. In thismanner, the entire assembly allows for easy construction, repair andcleaning.

In an alternative embodiment, an adjustment device 80 can be placed atthe base of the dispensing device 16. The adjustment device allows forchanges in the opening length for larger volumes of fluid flow. Theadjustment device 80 can comprise various known devices in the art suchas screw on fasteners, twist caps, etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, the liquid dispensing device 10 ofthe present invention can be shown in operation. FIG. 4A illustrates theinitial purge position of the dispensing device 10 before any materialis entered into the chamber 52. A simple spacer device (not shown) isplaced between the switching device 18 and the dispensing device 16. Indoing so, this leaves the sealing device 20 in a half open/half closedposition. The first sealing portion 62 and the second sealing portion 64do not complete or form seals anywhere within the chamber 52. In thismanner, material to be dispensed can be sent into the chamber 52 throughopening 54 and pass through the entire length of the chamber 52 and exitthrough the dispensing tip 22 via opening 60. This process purges anyair from the chamber prior to dispensing.

After the initial purge is complete, the switching device 18 brings thesealing device 20 to the first position where the second sealing portion64 seals the opening 60 over the dispensing tip 22. In this position,the first sealing portion 62 does not form a seal and therefore allowsan open pathway for material flow from the material opening 54 and intothe lower portion of the chamber 52. When the sealing device 20 is inthis position, the material control device 14 is compressed apredetermined distance by the power control 12. This creates a vacuum todraw material through the material opening 54 and material supply (notshown) into the chamber 52. The liquid material can flow past thesealing device first portion 62 and past the retainer 56 and into thelower area of the chamber 52. Once the selected volume of materialenters into the lower portion of chamber 52, the material cannot escapefrom the dispensing device 16 since the opening 60 for the dispensingtip 22 is sealed by second sealing portion 64. Using standard timing andcontrol systems known in the art, the switching device 18 moves thesealing device 20 to the second position after the volume of liquid haspassed the first sealing portion 62. In this manner, the second sealingportion 64 is removed from the dispensing opening 60 which can allow forthe material to escape and be dispensed onto the substrate (not shown).When the sealing device 20 and first sealing portion 62 are in thesecond position, the material control device 14 is returned to itsinitial position through the power control 12, preferably in the form ofa servomotor. This returning force from the piston 36 and materialcontrol device 14 forces the liquid in the chamber 52 to be pushedthrough opening 60 and through dispensing tip 22 onto a substrate. Theinteraction of the material control device 14, the switching device 18and the sealing device 20 allows for a distinct metered amount of liquidor paste to be provided to the substrate or depositing surface in acontrolled manner.

Another embodiment of a liquid dispensing system 100 for a dispensingmachine will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5-9. Thedispensing system 100 is particularly useful for dispensing highviscosity, abrasive, encapsulation materials and cavity fillingmaterials for which the weight of material dispensed is between 50 mgand 3 g.

The liquid dispensing system 100 includes a pump assembly 102, a motorassembly 104, a heater assembly 106, a syringe 108, and a mating bracket110 to mount the liquid dispensing system to a gantry system of adispensing machine.

The pump assembly 102 has an outer housing 112 and a substantiallyhollow interior section 114. Contained within the interior section is aball screw 116 coupled to an adapter 118. The adapter is coupled to apiston 120. The ball screw and the piston are coupled to the adapterusing screw threads. The piston resides within a cylinder 122, and thepiston has a seal 132, made from a filled composite material, thatprovide a seal between the piston and the cylinder. In one embodiment,the ball screw is made from steel, and the adapter and piston are madefrom stainless steel. Anti rotation ball bearings 130 are mounted to theadapter. The ball bearings are implemented using a cross-drilled holeand pin, and they allow vertical motion of the adapter, ball screw andpiston within the interior section of the pump assembly, whilepreventing horizontal motion and rotation.

The pump assembly 102 also includes an input channel 134, an outputchannel 136, a syringe adapter 138 and a nozzle 128. The input channelis disposed between the interior section of the pump assembly and thesyringe adapter 138, and the output channel 136 is disposed between theinterior section of the pump assembly and the nozzle 128. Material to bedispensed is input to the pump assembly through the input channel 134,and is output from the pump assembly through the output channel 136. Thesyringe adapter 138 is coupled to the syringe 108, using a Luer locadapter, to receive material from the syringe. The nozzle 128 alsoincludes a Luer loc adapter for mating with a dispensing pin or needle162 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B as is known in the art.

An inlet check valve 126 is disposed within the inlet channel 134, andan outlet check valve 124 is disposed within the outlet channel 136.Both the inlet check valve and the outlet check valve are implementedusing ball and seat type valves having a closed position when the ballis disposed in the seat and having an open position when the ball isremoved from the seat. Both the inlet check valve and the outlet checkvalve have springs that apply a spring force to the balls forcing theballs towards the seats. As discussed below in greater detail, thespring in the outlet check valve is a more robust spring, and provides agreater spring force than the spring in the inlet check valve. In oneembodiment, carbide balls and seats are used for the check valves, andthe springs are implemented using part #LC-014-C2 for the inlet valveand part #LC-026-C3 for the outlet valve, both of which are availablefrom Lee Spring of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The pump assembly also includes a nut 142 disposed around the ball screw116, such that the rotation of the nut causes vertical movement of theball screw and piston. The nut 142 is coupled to a gear train 144 whichis coupled to the motor assembly 104.

The motor assembly 104 is implemented in one embodiment using abrushless servo motor, such as model number 3556K024 available fromMicroMo of Clearwater, Fla. In one application utilizing the liquiddispensing system 100, a dispensing machine has a computer controllercoupled to the motor assembly to control the motor, and in turn, controlthe vertical movement of the piston to cause material to be dispensedfrom the liquid dispensing system.

The heater assembly 106 is implemented using a hot wire air flow elementcartridge available from Conventronics of Havehill, Mass. The heaterassembly has an inlet heater hose 146 that receives low pressure air,and the heater assembly has an outlet heater hose that provides heatedair to a drilled passage in the housing. In several dispensingapplications, it is desirable to dispense materials at a controlledelevated temperature onto substrates that are maintained atapproximately the same controlled temperature as the material.

The syringe 108 is disposed within a mounting bracket 150 in the liquiddispensing, system 100. The syringe contains material 156 to bedispensed by the dispensing system. The syringe may be implemented usinga disposal syringe or a refillable syringe. A syringe top 152 having anair line adapter 154 and an air channel 158 is used to provide an airtight seal over the top of the syringe. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, a pressurized air source is coupled to the air line adapter154 to provide pressure to the material 156 in the syringe to force thematerial through the syringe adapter 138 and into the pump assembly 102.In one embodiment, the syringe or the syringe top includes a piston thatextends into the syringe to force material from the syringe when airpressure is applied.

The operation of the liquid dispensing system 100 will now be described.There are two primary modes of operation for the liquid dispensingsystem, a loading mode and a dispensing mode. During operation of theliquid dispensing system, a constant air pressure is provided to thesyringe through the air line adapter. In one embodiment, this airpressure is equal to approximately 90 PSIG. In the loading mode, theball screw (and accordingly, the piston) are retracted (shown in FIG.9A) by the motor assembly. As the piston is retracted by the motor, apartial vacuum is developed within the cylinder 122, and the pressure ofthe material 156 in the syringe causes the inlet check valve 124 to openand material to enter into the pump assembly. The spring tension of thespring in the outlet check valve is greater than that of the inlet checkvalve, so that the pressure provided by the material is not sufficientto overcome the spring tension of the spring in the outlet check valve.Accordingly, the outlet check valve remains closed during the loadingmode of the dispensing system.

When the pump assembly is filled with material, and the dispensingsystem is set to dispense the material, the motor causes the piston 120to be lowered, compressing the material within the pump assembly. Whenthe pressure of the material in the pump assembly plus the springtension of the spring in the inlet check valve, becomes greater than thepressure of the material in the syringe, the inlet check valve moves tothe closed position. When the pressure of the material in the pumpassembly becomes greater than the sum of the spring tension of thespring in the outlet check valve and the ambient atmospheric pressure,the outlet check valve moves to the open position. Once the outlet checkvalve moves to the open position, the dispensing system begins todispense material, and will continue to dispense material until thepiston 122 stops moving. FIG. 9B shows the pump assembly in thedispensing mode, near the end of a dispensing cycle.

The volume of material dispensed by the dispensing system 100 iscontrolled by the vertical distance that the piston is moved during adispensing cycle. In one embodiment, the piston has a maximum strokedistance of 0.625 and the diameter of the piston is 0.375, resulting ina maximum dispensing volume per stroke of 1 cc. In another embodiment ofthe present invention, the piston and cylinder are replaceable withdifferent size pistons and cylinders depending on the volume of materialto be dispensed.

The time required to dispense material from the dispensing system 100and the time required to recharge or fill the pump assembly withmaterial depends on several factors including the viscosity and densityof the material. In one embodiment, for typical underfill materialshaving a material density of 1.7 g/c, the time to dispense 7.5 g ofmaterial is approximately 1 second and the time required to fill thepump assembly with material is approximately 1.5 seconds.

The dispensing system 100 is particularly useful with a dispensingmachine having an XY gantry system, such as those available from CamelotSystems, Inc. of Haverhill, Mass. In these dispensing machines, thedispensing system 100 may be mounted to the XY gantry system to locatethe dispensing system above desired dispense locations on a substrateand to provide motion of the dispensing system during a dispensingoperation. The motion of the dispensing system during dispensing ofmaterial allows a line, or some other geometrical shape of material, tobe dispensed on the substrate. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, a 4-axis servo controller, such as that provided by GalilInc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. having part #1040, is used in the dispensingmachine to control the XY gantry system, and to control the motorassembly 104 of the dispensing system 100. In this embodiment, theoperation of the motor and the motor assembly may be synchronized to theXY motion of the dispensing system by the servo controller.

Embodiments of the present invention described above include inlet andoutlet check valves that are implemented using springs to control theopening and closing of the valves. As understood by those skilled in theart, embodiments of the present invention may include other types ofvalves with other control mechanisms.

Embodiments of the present invention described above use a piston tovary the effective volume of a cylinder to draw material into thecylinder and to force material from the cylinder. In other embodiments,the effective volume of the cylinder may be varied in other ways toachieve the same effect as the piston.

In one embodiment of the present invention, instead of expanding thevolume to draw material into the cylinder, as in the dispensing system100, a vacuum generator/compressor is used to decrease the air pressurewithin the cylinder and cause material to flow into the cylinder fromthe syringe. To subsequently dispense material from the cylinder, theair pressure applied to the cylinder from the vacuumgenerator/compressor is increased to force the material from thedispensing system.

Having thus described at least one illustrative embodiment of theinvention, various alterations, modifications and improvements willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations,modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope andspirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is byway of example only. It is not intended as limiting. The invention'slimit is defined only in the following claims and the equivalentsthereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispensing system for dispensing a quantity ofmaterial, the dispensing system comprising: an inlet port to receivematerial; an outlet port from which the material is dispensed from thedispensing system; a housing including an inner chamber having anadjustable volume, a first opening through which material enters intothe inner chamber, and a second opening through which material exits theinner chamber; a first valve operable in one of an open mode ofoperation and a closed mode of operation, the first valve being disposedbetween the inlet port and the first opening in such a manner that whenthe first valve is operating in the open mode, material may flow fromthe inlet port through the first opening into the inner chamber, andwhen the first valve is operating in the closed mode, material isprevented from flowing from the inlet port into the inner chamber; asecond valve operable in one of an open mode of operation and a closedmode of operation, the second valve being disposed between the outletport and the second opening in such a manner that when the second valveis operating in the open mode, material may flow from the inner chamberthrough the second opening to the outlet port, and when the second valveis operating in the closed position, material is prevented from flowingfrom the inner chamber to the outlet port; and a reservoir to containmaterial for dispensing, the reservoir having an outlet coupled to theinlet port to provide the material for dispensing, and having an inletto couple to a source of pressure to pressurize the material in thereservoir.
 2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the first valveis constructed and arranged such that the mode of operation of the firstvalve is controlled in part based on a difference in pressure ofmaterial being received in the inlet port and pressure of material inthe inner chamber.
 3. The dispensing system of claim 2, wherein thesecond valve is constructed and arranged such that the mode of operationof the second valve is controlled in part based on a difference inpressure of material in the inner chamber and ambient air pressure atthe outlet port.
 4. The dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the firstvalve includes a first spring providing a spring force that causes thefirst valve to operate in the closed mode of operation unless thepressure of the material in the inlet port is greater than the sum ofpressure provided by the spring force and the pressure of material inthe inner chamber.
 5. The dispensing system of claim 4, wherein thesecond valve includes a second spring providing a spring force thatcauses the second valve to operate in the closed mode of operationunless the pressure of the material in the inner chamber is greater thanthe sum of pressure provided by the spring force of the second springand the ambient air pressure at the outlet port.
 6. The dispensingsystem of claim 5, wherein the spring force provided by the secondspring is greater than the spring force provided by the first spring. 7.The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the housing includes a pistonmovable within the inner chamber to vary the volume of the innerchamber.
 8. The dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the housingincludes a ball screw coupled to the piston.
 9. The dispensing system ofclaim 8, further comprising a motor coupled to the ball screw through acoupling nut to control a position of the ball screw and to therebycontrol a position of the piston in the inner chamber.
 10. Thedispensing system of claim 9 wherein each of the first valve and thesecond valve is implemented using a ball and seat type valve.
 11. Thedispensing system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a pistonmovable within the inner chamber to vary the volume of the innerchamber.
 12. The dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the housingincludes a ball screw coupled to the piston.
 13. In a dispensing systemhaving an inlet port to receive material, an outlet port from which thematerial is dispensed from the dispensing system, a housing including aninner chamber, a first opening through which material enters into theinner chamber, and a second opening through which material exits theinner chamber, and a reservoir that contains the material coupled to thefirst opening, a method of dispensing material including steps of:applying pressure to the material in the reservoir; decreasing pressurewithin the inner chamber to cause material to flow through the inletport and first opening into the inner chamber; and increasing pressureon the material in the inner chamber to cause material to flow from theinner chamber through the second opening and the outlet port to bedispensed by the dispensing system.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe step of decreasing air pressure includes a step of increasing avolume of the inner chamber, and wherein the step of increasing pressureincludes a step of decreasing the volume of the inner chamber.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the dispensing system further includes aninlet valve disposed in the inlet port and an outlet valve disposed inthe outlet port, and wherein the step of decreasing air pressureincludes a step of opening the inlet valve, and the step of increasingpressure includes steps of closing the inlet valve and opening theoutlet valve.